Metta World Peace suspended for 7 games

[caption id="attachment_71330" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Tha Lakers Metta World Peace will miss seven games as punishment for his elbow to the head of Thunder guard James Harden during Sundays game. / THE ASSOCIATED PRESS"][/caption]

Metta World Peace was suspended seven games without pay by the NBA on Tuesday for his vicious elbow to the head of Oklahoma City guard James Harden during Sunday's game, it was announced.

His suspension begins with Thursday's game at Sacramento and spans the next six games. Should the Lakers lose in the first round of the playoffs in six games or less, the suspension would carry into next season.

“Metta has for the most part been a model citizen both on and off the court since joining the Lakers," Lakers General Manager Mitch Kupchak said in a statement. " Still, his most recent lapse in judgement is not to be condoned or accepted.

"His actions could have seriously injured another player, and his absence during this suspension will hurt our team as well. While we accept the league's decision, we will be supportive of Metta and try to help him be more professional on the court.”

World Peace was celebrating his dunk with 1:39 left in the second quarter by pounding his chest then swung his elbow that caught Harden in the back of the head. The incident resulted in flagrant four 2 and automatic ejection. The Lakers forward said after the game, the hit was "unintentional" but the league saw it differently.

“The concussion suffered by James Harden demonstrates the danger posed by violent acts of this kind, particularly when they are directed at the head area," NBA Commissioner David Stern said in a statement.

"We remain committed to taking necessary measures to protect the safety of NBA players, including the imposition of appropriate penalties for players with a history of on-court altercations."

Harden suffered a concussion and is expected to miss the Thunder's final two regular-season games.

In a brief statement after Sunday's game, World Peace apologized for his actions, saying that he got "really emotional, really excited. It was unfortunate that James had to get hit with an unintentional elbow."

World Peace was suspended one game during last season's playoff for clothes-lining Dallas Mavericks guard Jose Barea. Overall, he has been suspended 10 times in his 13 years.

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